Depending on the type of tournament you play, your tournament strategy should vary. Considering the different prerequisites of the specific tournament type your game needs some adjustment. In this chapter, we give suggestions on how you should alter your play, thus modifying your strategy to fit the tournament type you have chosen to play.

Please note that this advice applies to the beginning and middle stages of a tournament. As a tournament reaches the end and blinds are large compared to stack size strategy converges and becomes similar.  

The different tournaments types will discuss are:

• Large “live” tournaments
• Large online tournaments with small entry-fee
• Large online tournaments with large entry-fee
• Rebuy tournaments

Large “live” tournament

In large live tournaments gameplay is usually quite tight and it´s hard to play hands which need a lot of help from the flop. Since there often are few players involved in each pot small pairs and drawings hands should be avoided. The required implied odds simply won´t be there. Hands with high cards on the other hand go up in value. Since blinds are small compared to the initial stack size it is often better to have a conservative approach to begin with and open up as blinds rise. Beginners in these types of games often only play good hands and seldom bluff since they are scared to lose their relatively expensive buy-in. 

Large online tournament with a small entry-fee

These types of tournaments are common on the internet and can often attract thousands of players. The game is often loose to begin with so strategy is usually playing good hands (tight) and being paid off (since someone is bound to call). Bluffing is difficult since the risk of being called is high. Since blinds often increase quickly, you are to some extent (in contradiction to the above) required to play more hands. The best strategy is probably to play somewhat more loose (than a normal tight game) and make sure to maximize the pot (by raising) when you get a flop to your liking (i.e. good hand). Since many players see the flop it is often worth playing small pairs and small suited connectors.

Large online tournaments with a large entry-fee  

These types of tournaments usually have fewer players and the blinds don´t increase that quickly. This allows more room for maneuvers and makes the game similar to a large live tournaments. Even so the blinds still increase faster than in live events and as such a slightly more aggressive strategy is required. In comparison to games with a smaller entry-fee you will have aim to win many small pots (and fewer large ones). 

Rebuy tournaments

A tournament with a rebuy period often creates a considerably looser game play. If you’re out you can always buy back in. However when the rebuy period is over things usually go back to normal. Stick to your good hands while in the rebuy period and hopefully you will double up by someone taking too much risk. If you have the option to buy more chips through an add-on or rebuy you should do so maximizing your chip count. This makes sure that you will have maximum flexibility while playing.   

In general tournaments become more similar as the tournament progresses. Towards the end only good players remain and the blinds are high pressuring you to play more hands. More about this in our next chapter zoneplay.

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